ask (for)

Definition of ask (for)next
1
2
as in to woo
to act so as to make (something) more likely you are asking for trouble if you invite her ex to the wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to request
to give a request or demand for the surgeon asked for the scalpel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ask (for)
Verb
  • Unlike journalists seeking records through the California Public Records Act, the watchdog can compel internal agency records.
    — Julie Watts, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But some Democrats sought to preemptively dissuade their party from using a wave election to further stack the deck in a partisan fashion.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Many of the industry’s biggest players, including hyperscalers, AI labs, and data-center developers, are advertising six-figure roles for policy wonks able to woo local communities where data centers are planned, a Semafor analysis found.
    — J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • With only five days remaining before the November election, top candidates on the Republican ticket rallied Thursday night in Hialeah for a final push to woo Cuban-American voters.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Kyle Murphy, who’s lived in Evergreen Park with his wife and child for the past two years, supported the Elementary District 124 referendum and a $115 million bond issue requested by Moraine Valley Community College.
    — Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Megan Katz, a librarian in West Hollywood who supported the registry and other antidiscrimination protections, requested a change in the new ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Anthropic has invited banks, wealth managers and other financial services companies to help shape these future capabilities.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The announcement comes one day before Rossum will appear at Raising the Prevention Generation, an invite-only event for survivors, allies and advocates, co-hosted by WME and RAINN.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Carter ordered an expedited hearing on the state’s and county’s motions to dismiss the case and the government’s motion for a preliminary injunction.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Rolón has ordered three criminal investigations into the Ueno Bank crisis, including claims involving Peña and other current and former government officials, the prosecutor's office said Thursday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ask (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ask%20%28for%29. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster